Professor Malcolm Hooper presented with prize at IiME conference

At the recent IiME conference, the Norwegian ME Association presented Professor Malcolm Hooper with a prize, consisting of a framed citation and beautiful hand-made glass vase in recognition of his “untiring and exceptional contribution to the ME cause”.

NORGES MYALGISK ENCEFALOPATI FORENINGThe ME AwardLondon, 31st May 2013Professor Malcolm Hooper has stood on the barricades for years and fought for ME from many angles. He is described as a real "warrior", which is very true. It is noteworthy that he is fighting for a disease with which he has no personal involvement.He has written informative documents, published articles in international journals and fought politically. He gives lectures and has often spoken out against opponents such as Professor Simon Wessely, and other key individuals and institutions in the psychosocial environment. In addition, he has been an active part of the work of Invest in ME, has chaired their conferences several times, and has been their professional supporter.The Norwegian ME Association has, on many occasions, approached him for advice in specific situations, and has benefited from the advice he has given in our struggle for recognition in Norway.On behalf of the Norwegian ME Association it gives me great pleasure to present this ME Award to Professor Malcolm Hooper for his untiring and exceptional contribution to the ME cause.

Getting a knighthood for Hooper will firstly honour the long years of work he has put in for the ME community (and GWS?) but also it would be a major boost for ME in both research and advocacy. It will raise the profile of our situation, and counter the Knighthood of that other guy ... you know the one I said I would never call Sir.

This wasn't a knighthood was it? It did however make me wonder what Clare made of it - assuming she was in the audience. Particularly if the presentation was accompanied by the words pertaining to being a critique of her husband. Ah well. I guess you learn to be thick-skinned in the world of... whatever

I must add having watched the "battle" (it was) over 12 years in the UK for the correct recognition of ME, it is Prof Hooper who should have a knighthood.

And on a personal note thanks to Norwegian ME too who in my early days sent me "Engaging with ME" when all professionals around denied any illness. Before numerous passings out I could at least think someone knows, very comforting.

This wasn't a knighthood was it? It did however make me wonder what Clare made of it - assuming she was in the audience. Particularly if the presentation was accompanied by the words pertaining to being a critique of her husband. Ah well. I guess you learn to be thick-skinned in the world of... whatever

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No, its not a knighthood. The suggestion was that if we can get him a knighthood it would help advocacy a lot, and show him we appreciate his efforts.

Clare ... hmmmm, amusing thought ... what does she make of these issues, including comments about deregistering docs who think that exercise can cure ME?

This wasn't a knighthood was it? It did however make me wonder what Clare made of it - assuming she was in the audience. Particularly if the presentation was accompanied by the words pertaining to being a critique of her husband. Ah well. I guess you learn to be thick-skinned in the world of... whatever

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Gerada had left the building by then, I think. As far as I could see, she was only present for her own speech and discussion, though she may have been in the audience during the morning; something she said in the Q&A suggested she may have heard some of the morning presentations but I wasn't clear whether she was there for any of the rest of the conference or not.

Gerada had left the building by then, I think. As far as I could see, she was only present for her own speech and discussion, though she may have been in the audience during the morning; something she said in the Q&A suggested she may have heard some of the morning presentations but I wasn't clear whether she was there for any of the rest of the conference or not.

Thanks. I figured. Not a secret I suppose that I am not in the pro-Hooper-camp. Mind you I only really formed my opinion over the comments made with/published by Margaret Williams; so probably do not have a real grasp of all of his work.

Thanks. I figured. Not a secret I suppose that I am not in the pro-Hooper-camp. Mind you I only really formed my opinion over the comments made with/published by Margaret Williams; so probably do not have a real grasp of all of his work.

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Some of the political stuff I am dubious about too, not because I know he is wrong, but because too much of it is unprovable. However he asked the hard questions when nobody else did, and kept bringing the debate back to science. He is the only scientist I know of who was battling for us on multiple fronts, although I don't think he did any lab research of his own on ME. Without him psychobabble may have had a much easier time in the UK, and things would be worse.

Gerada had left the building by then, I think. As far as I could see, she was only present for her own speech and discussion, though she may have been in the audience during the morning; something she said in the Q&A suggested she may have heard some of the morning presentations but I wasn't clear whether she was there for any of the rest of the conference or not.

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Perhaps this suggests that she attended because she had to really because of her position, but once her bit was done she felt she couldn't be critized for leaving from a professional point of view. Personally, I find it disapointing that she left early. If she was serious about the illness, surely she would have stayed to hear about it from experts.

Perhaps this suggests that she attended because she had to really because of her position, but once her bit was done she felt she couldn't be critized for leaving from a professional point of view. Personally, I find it disapointing that she left early. If she was serious about the illness, surely she would have stayed to hear about it from experts.

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My feelings about Clare Gerada are that she takes her job seriously, and that she feels passionate about the NHS.
Obviously we have profound differences with her about the nature of ME/CFS, but she doesn't work directly in the field.
She was at the conference purely in her capacity as the head of the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and I doubt if she felt compelled to attend, as she is probably asked to attend thousands of meetings a year, and probably had other work to attend to after her presentation.
I don't think she was there to talk about ME/CFS, but she was probably talking about NHS care for chronic illnesses, or something similar. (But I haven't yet read Mark's summary yet.)
In terms of ME/CFS, I doubt that the conference was going to convert her to biomedical model of illness, but let's hope that she picked up enough info to make her think about it.
In any case, she is said to be leaving her role in November:http://www.pmlive.com/appointments/healthcare/2013/may/clare_gerada_to_step_down_as_uk_rcgp_chair

I've had a little contact with Prof. Hooper; he's a nice chap and has worked - and continues to work - hard for recognizion of our plight. He really seems to feel there is an injustice that we have suffered, and he wants to do something about it. I find it hard not to like someone like that. Especially, when they could easily go and do something else more fun, more rewarding, and less stressful. It's not as if we have people lining up here in the UK to help us out either, so I support him.

My feelings about Clare Gerada are that she takes her job seriously, and that she feels passionate about the NHS.
Obviously we have profound differences with her about the nature of ME/CFS, but she doesn't work directly in the field.
She was at the conference purely in her capacity as the head of the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and I doubt if she felt compelled to attend, as she is probably asked to attend thousands of meetings a year, and probably had other work to attend to after her presentation.
I don't think she was there to talk about ME/CFS, but she was probably talking about NHS care for chronic illnesses, or something similar.

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Yup, spot on. She was there for a very specific purpose, to talk about the health and social care bill, the changes in the NHS, and how they will affect patients with any illness, particularly chronic illnesses. I have no doubt she has very strong and principled beliefs on those matters which are based on her belief in universal access to healthcare, the importance of continuity of care, the importance of the general practitioner's role, and in the NHS. It wouldn't surprise me if she gave a very similar speech at a couple of other places the same day.

I've had a little contact with Prof. Hooper; he's a nice chap and has worked - and continues to work - hard for recognizion of our plight. He really seems to feel there is an injustice that we have suffered, and he wants to do something about it. I find it hard not to like someone like that. Especially, when they could easily go and do something else more fun, more rewarding, and less stressful. It's not as if we have people lining up here in the UK to help us out either, so I support him.

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Also spot on. A legend, really, and I don't know where we'd be today without him. The point they made when announcing his award really struck me: he really has no reason to be involved in this; he doesn't have ME himself and (I didn't know this) presumably doesn't have any family affected. That just makes what he's done over the years all the more extraordinary: how many people out there 'get it' and really care about us without having some personal experience as a reason for doing so? Not many, I reckon...

I could be wrong, but doesn't Malcolm Hooper have a connection with supporting GWS, and that is how he got involved, given how close the two are? I hope my memory is not failing me, I only dimly recollect this.

I could be wrong, but doesn't Malcolm Hooper have a connection with supporting GWS, and that is how he got involved, given how close the two are? I hope my memory is not failing me, I only dimly recollect this.

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You'll be pleased to know that your memory is still reliable (at least sometimes), Alex:

"Many sick veterans were also diagnosed with CFS/ME and this lead Professor Hooper to become involved with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis"